2021-04-04

Easter Sunday – It Is Finished … But Its Not Over

[John 3:16-18 ESV] “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
 
[John 20:19-23 ESV] On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
 
[Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV] Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Opening Prayer – 281 – Passion/Palm Sunday

Almighty God, you sent your Son,
our Savior Jesus Christ,
to suffer death on the cross.
Grant that we may share
in his obedience to your will
and in the glorious victory of his resurrection;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and ever.
Amen.

Call to Worship – Matthew 28:1-6 ESV

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn
of the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary

went to see the tomb.
And behold, there was a great earthquake,
for an angel of the Lord

descended from heaven and came
and rolled back the stone and sat on it.
His appearance was like lightning,
and his clothing white as snow.
And for fear of him the guards trembled
and became like dead men.
But the angel said to the women,
“Do not be afraid, for I know
that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.
Come, see the place where he lay.

Music

322 – Up from the Grave He Arose
302 – Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
327 – Crown Him with Many Crowns
334 – Sweet, Sweet Spirit
307 – Christ Is Risen


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2021-03-28

Palm Sunday – Jesus On A Mission

[Luke 19:41-44 ESV] And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
 
[Luke 19:28-40 ESV] And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.'” So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. As he was drawing near–already on the way down the Mount of Olives–the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Call To Worship – Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Music

#278 Hosanna, Loud Hosanna
#277 Tell me the Stories of Jesus
#2159 Jesus, Draw me close (2 times through)
#2241 The Spirit sends Us Forth to Serve


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2021-03-21

Do You Believe This?

[John 11:21-27 ESV] Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

Call to Worship – John 12:28-32

Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

Music

#368 My Hope is Built
#168 At the name of Jesus
#472 Near to the heart of God
# 98 To God be the Glory


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2021-03-14

He is The Great I AM

[John 8:52-59 ESV] The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
 
[John 6:31-35 ESV] Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

Call to Worship – John 10:7-11 ESV

So Jesus again said to them,
“Truly, truly, I say to you,
I am the door of the sheep.
All who came before me
are thieves and robbers,
but the sheep did not listen to them.
I am the door.
If anyone enters by me,
he will be saved and will go in
and out and find pasture.
The thief comes only to steal
and kill and destroy.
I came that they may have life
and have it abundantly.
I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down
his life for the sheep.

Music

#2022 – Great Is the Lord
#273 – Jesus’ Hands Were Kind Hands
#166 – All Praise To Thee, for Thou, O King Divine
#160 – Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart

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